Rand Paul Shows Us How Petty He Can Be

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton have been flagged as problematic picks because of their hawkish policy views and, in the case of Giuliani, outside business dealings.

Both have been mentioned as possible nominees to head the State Department.

They face staunch opposition from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who says other Republican lawmakers have expressed concern.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), who backed Trump in the primary, is a possibility to head the Interior Department. Some lawmakers question whether she would be up to speed on policy and note she has a penchant for going off script — something that Cabinet members are urged not to do.
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Giuliani and Bolton face immediate problems because of their vocal support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

“I’ll do whatever I can to stop either, either Giuliani or Bolton, because I don’t think that they support the president-elect’s foreign policy views,” Paul told reporters Wednesday.

Paul noted that Giuliani was an outspoken proponent of former President George W. Bush’s Iraq policy and backed his aggressive foreign policy stances.

“There are quotes showing him being an unabashed supporter of the Iraq War. I think there are quotes that actually are similar to Bolton’s quotes on bombing Iran,” he added.

To be clear, as a senator Paul has the authority to vote against Trump nominees for any reason he wishes. But to say he will oppose them because they were in favor of the Iraq War (and we can all agree that the aftermath of the invasion was a dog’s breakfast of #FAIL without agreeing that deposing Saddam Hussein was a bad thing) and that Paul thinks they won’t support Trump’s own foreign policy is cretinous. He is saying that he knows the mind of Trump better than Trump himself.

But Paul, for his manifest failings as a politician and a judge of character, is not stupid. He is just acting out in the same manner as any other petulant toddler. This is why the GOP Senate was incapable of taking tough actions to oppose Obama and it is why they will not be able to capitalize on any honeymoon period that Trump enjoys. It is also a reason that Paul should never be considered for any leadership position anywhere.